PPA Tour · Columbus Sliders (MLP) · Top 6 · as of Jun 2026 · 2026 MLP: 39-19
Romanian-American doubles specialist and 2025 MLP champion known for his steady dinking game.
Compare ⇄Video thumbnail — Major League Pickleball (official)
Both top seeds rolled through Saturday's semifinals at the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament, setting up a third New Jersey-St. Louis meeting of the season for Sunday's title.
New Jersey beat Columbus for the Austin event crown on Super Sunday — then the real fireworks started off-court. Dallas, who went 1–4 and finished dead last, immediately dealt top-five women's player Tyra Black to Columbus for Dani-Elle Townsend and cash.
Video thumbnail — Major League Pickleball (official)The Columbus Sliders closed out the Miami Pickleball Club 3-1 to lock up the top seed in Group A at 2026 MLP Austin, with Andrei Daescu sealing the win.
3rd of 24 — Columbus Sliders — Edward Jones Mid-Season Tournament
5th of 8 — Columbus Sliders — MLP St. Petersburg
Runner-up — Columbus Sliders — MLP Austin
Clinched the No. 1 seed in Group A with the Columbus Sliders — 2026 MLP Austin (group play)
3rd of 8 — Columbus Sliders — MLP Columbus
Runner-up — Columbus Sliders — MLP Dallas